The Pakistan cricket team has once again been mired in internal differences and personal issues. Due to these, Pakistan is on the verge of exiting the T20 World Cup 2024 in the first round of the mega event after back-to-back defeats by the USA and India.
Ahead of the ICC mega event, the team won a tough series against Ireland but did not play well against England, leading to criticism from veteran cricketers and pundits over the team’s poor performance.
Sources say that the national team has developed a deep rift, and factions have formed between the players. Captaincy differences have turned friends into enemies, with many players interacting only as needed, highlighting the team’s divided state.
Board officials are surprised that differences in the 15-member team have reached this level.
Sources also say that until some time ago, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi had such a friendly relationship that “even the idea of changing the captaincy was considered taboo.” Still, when Babar replaced Shaheen as captain and he accepted the responsibility, a difference arose between them.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that many of the team’s famous players are supported by the same agent, who has close ties with the old cricketers. The support network has continued to promote its favorite players on social media and has a mob ready to vehemently troll anyone who criticizes those players.
On the other hand, after being removed from the captaincy, Babar Azam’s relationship with the board was almost lost, and matters continued until the formal salam dua, but with the arrival of the new management, things improved.
After just one series, Shaheen Afridi was furious about being removed from the captaincy, and PCB issued a fake statement to the media. Although he was unofficially offered the vice-captain position, the board officially refused, much to his displeasure. Despite these problems, Shaheen has continued to perform well for the team.
Sources reveal that Babar Azam is not getting the respect he deserves as captain, with players feeling he does not step up in times of need.
Babar did not like Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir, but they were included in the team after his retirement, which affected the team combination. Meanwhile, Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed continue to get opportunities despite poor performances.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was aware of these issues before the World Cup but chose not to take immediate action, given the event’s importance. There are also reports of factions within the board itself, with members acting as defensive shields for each other.
Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has also indicated a clean-up operation in the national team; many significant changes are expected after the World Cup, which may include some surprising decisions.
